C O N N E C T E D
A D I R O N D A C K
N E W S L E T T E R
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Connected District Bullet
Connected Partners
Collaborations & Contribut
Training Highlights
Initiative Wide Highlights Staff
1 2025
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The Connected Team had a blast at the Boonville Elementary PTA’s Christmas in July event! Around 75 children and families stopped by our table to play a variety of large games with Site Coordinator Walker. It was a wonderful opportunity for families to connect, have fun, and learn more about community resources together!
Project Manager Walker joined the Woodsmans Field Days parade, spreading smiles by handing out candy to children and families along the route. It was a fun way to connect with the community and celebrate the event!
Project Manager Walker joined the Woodsmans Field Days parade, spreading smiles by handing out candy to children and families along the route. It was a fun way to connect with the community and celebrate the event!
5th- and 6th-grade students to the middle school by manning the HUB during their tours. Site Coordinator Rylee greeted 6th graders and provided an overview of the HUB’s purpose, both within the school and as a resource for the community. On August 28th, Project Manager Walker welcomed 5th graders, offering snacks and a chance to play Connect Four while learning about the HUB. These visits gave students a warm
The HUB was open during the Boonville Elementary Open House, welcoming families to explore the space, meet Connected staff, and build connections. It was a great opportunity for families to learn about the HUB’s resources and how it supports students both at school and in the community.
Connected Adirondack hosted three Open HUB Hours during Quarter 1, inviting families to drop in for school supplies, personal essentials, and other resources. Families connected with staff, received support, and learned about additional community services, making it a valuable opportunity for assistance and relationship-building with the Connected Adirondack team.
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It was a day of connection, celebration p g y th challenges
with their peers.
We’re thrilled to introduce Belle to Connected Adirondack! A proud alum of Monmouth University in New Jersey, Belle spent five years playing Division 1 basketball, where dedication on and off the court led to remarkable achievements. During this time, she earned her Bachelor’s in Health and Physical Education K-12 and her Master’s in Educational Leadership.
In the 2022-2023 season, her team won their league, earning championship rings and a coveted bid to the NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament—a testament to teamwork, perseverance, and excellence.
Beyond athletics and academics, Belle loves to travel, shop, and soak up the sun at the beach, bringing energy and enthusiasm to everything she does. We’re excited to have her as part of our team!
Connected Site Coordinator Belle is thrilled to continue collaborating with the RKA Clinic at Adirondack. Working with Mrs. Corrina Valedez-Bush has been a pleasure—she keeps the Site Coordinators informed and up to date on student referral successes, making the partnership seamless and effective.
The new School-Based Health Center at Adirondack Middle and High School will be opening in the coming weeks, and we are excited to welcome this valuable addition to our community! Please join us in greeting Leah Boek, DNPBC, and Corrine Kelley, DNP-BC, from Rome Health as they join us to support the health and well-being of our students.
In August, we proudly piloted Resiliency Services in two new Connected School Districts Adirondack (ADK) and Holland Patent (HP). Following September’s program overview, both districts expressed excitement for the added support and resources available to their families. From July through September, we received 44 referrals 38 from Rome CSD, 4 from Camden, 1 from ADK, and 1 from Holland Patent Themostrequestedsupportscontinuetobefood,transportation,andschoolsupplies.We’rehelpingfamilies budgetSNAPbenefits,connectingthemtotheImpactCenter(openTuesdaysandFridays,10–2),andassistingwith transportationchallengesbyofferingrides,buspasses,andguidanceoncityroutes.
We’realsoseeingapowerfultrend—overthepastthreemonths,80%ofreferralscamefromfamilieswithno priorservicehistory,showingtheincredibleimpactResiliencyishavinginstrengtheningourcommunities.
The Connected Adirondack team continues collaborating with OPWDD to help families navigate services within the district. With incoming LINK referrals, the team has identified a growing need for mental health supports and is working closely with RKA, Willow Network, and other local agencies to connect students and families with the services and resources they need.
Monthly Connected Partner Highlights are held virtually throughout the school year for staff to discover and build connections with various community partners. September kicked off the presentations for the '25-'26 school year. Melinda Robinson, a research coordinator at Bassett's Research Institute, presented to our staff on her role in cancer awareness, prevention, and education, noting her work with youth tobacco prevention using pigs' lungs as an educational tool. This tobacco prevention education is available for any of our Connected Districts, so our Site Coordinators can work with her to schedule her interactive presentation to schools, at no cost! The presentation, featuring healthy and damaged pigs' lungs, aims to deeply resonate with students about the consequences of tobacco use. For more information or if you are interested in bringing Melinda into your school, please connect with your Site Coordinator!
Learn how to support the mental health of young people in your community! This 6-hour interactive training is designed for anyone who wants to better understand youth mental health, recognize signs of concern, and connect youth with the right resources and supports. Gain practical skills, increase your confidence, and make a positive difference in the lives of young people.
In August, we held our initiative-wide Back to School Bash in partnership with National Grid. 1,300 students from our Connected Districts were able to receive the school supplies needed according to their teachers’ lists. About 3,000 individuals were in attendance to learn about the Community Partner resources, have a meal, and enjoy a variety of activities alongside the school supply giveaway! Thanks to our partnership with National Grid, students were able to start
Our first annual Connected Visionary Awards: Not a School Night Celebration was a huge success! The award recipients included Colleen Fahy-Box, Jessica Lattimore, Jason Mitchell, Julia Thet, Karen Belcher on behalf of the Food Bank of CNY, Anne Lansing on behalf of Safe Schools Mohawk Valley, and Richelle Singer on behalf of Cornell Cooperative Extension. The Beeches was a fabulous location with amazing food. There was a silent auction, locker giveaway, painting, and more! We greatly appreciate our Connected Partners and are glad to give them the acknowledgement they deserve for supporting our Intiative.
OurCo-Leader,MelissaRoys,wastherecipientoftheHunger HeroAwardshostedbytheFoodBankofCentralNewYork duetotheworkdoneintheTheConnectedInitiativethrough back-to-backnaturaldisastersinCentralNewYork
TheConnectedInitiativeishonoredtocelebrateMelissa Roys,2025HungerHero,whilealsorecognizingthesteadfast leadershipofDanielleMartinandtheentireConnectedTeam fortheirtirelesscommitmenttofightinghunger, strengtheningfamilies,andbuildingresilientcommunities.
CoordinatorAppreciationWeekwasheldnationallySeptember 14th-20th Ourteamcelebratedtheonlywaythatmadesense–bycelebratingeachofourstaffandhighlightingthestrengths theybringtotheConnectedInitiative! Eachstaffmemberreceivedapersonalizedawardfortheunique contributionstheyoffer.
